JUST-IN: Chelsea join race for De Jong and ready to offer £51m swap deal
Chelsea are set to rival Manchester United for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong this summer, according to reports in Spain.
United have been heavily linked with a move for the Dutch midfielder, who is believed to be a top target for new head coach Erik ten Hag.
Yet in a potential blow for the Red Devils, Spanish outlet Sport are reporting that Chelsea have now entered the race for De Jong.
Chelsea are reportedly set to rival Manchester United for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong
Their report suggests the Blues are even prepared to offer captain Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso as makeweights in a £51million players-plus-cash deal with Barca, signalling their intent to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Alonso, who has 12 months to run on his current deal, has hinted at a return to Spain in recent months, while Azpilicueta’s future is also in doubt despite triggering a one-year contract extension at the end of last season.
However, Barca are understood to have heard Chelsea’s players-plus-cash proposal and would prefer to simply receive cash upfront.
The Catalans have slapped a £70million price tag on De Jong this summer, a fee United have so far been unable to meet in full.
Yet earlier this week Sportsmail sources indicated that an agreement between the Red Devils and Barca is ’90 per cent complete’ with only the finer details of the deal left to iron out.
The Blues are ready to include Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso (left and right) in a deal
United, whose new boss Erik ten Hag worked with De Jong at Ajax, have made him a top target
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It is believed United will pay around £55million upfront for De Jong as part of a fee which could eventually rise to £70million.
Though with Chelsea now keen to beat their Premier League rivals to the signing, Barca may look to spark a bidding war between the two sides this summer.
The west London club are also said to have asked Nou Camp officials about the availability of Memphis Depay, although a potential deal for De Jong is more of a priority.